Inertia controlled machine-tool worktable



3 Sheets-Sheet 1 l T. MILLER ETAL INERTIA CONTROLLED MACHINE TOOL WORKTABLE L NN WN @JWN May 16, l195o F-iled Oct. 17, 1946 May 16, 1950 r. MILLER ETAL INERTIA CONTROLLED MACHINE T001., WORKTABLE Filed Oct. 17, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 16, 1950 T@ MILLER ETAL 2,503,281

I INERTI'A CQNTROLLED MACHINE TOOL WORKTABLE t Filedot. 174 194g s, sheets-sheet s Ff .A

Patented May 16, 1950 INERTIA CONTROLLED MACHINE-TOOL WORKTABLE 'Iheolore `Miller, Aage Jensen, and Raymond fE. Overturf, Racine, Wis., assignors to George vvGorton Machine Co., Racine, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application October 17, 1946, Serial No. 703,724

(Cl. 90h58) y3 Claims.

This invention relates to certain improvements in inertia controlled machine tool work tables and the like; and the nature and objects of the invention will be readily recognized and understood by those vskilled 'in the `arts involved in the light of the following explanation and detailed description of the accompanying drawings, illustrating one adaptation of the invention by way of example, from among various other adaptations, embodiments, forms, arrangements, and combinations, of which the invention is capable within the spirit and scope thereof.

Our invention is particularly directed to overcoming certain problems and difficulties encountered with machine Vtools of the duplicator type having manually operated and controlled Work tables of the rso called sensitive type, which problems and difficulties restrict and limit the range of operations of such machine tools and reduce the field of usefulness thereof. Such a duplicator machine tool Vhaving a work table of the so called sensitive type, as referred to above, is illustrated and described in the S. Patent 2,005,696, for machine tool, issued June i8, 1935, as assigned to George Gorton Machine Company.

The manually operated, sensitive type of machine tool work table in the adaptations thereof as the work table ofra machine tool of the duplicator type, exemplified inthe above referred to U. S. Patent 2,005,696, is essentially designed and mounted for a high degree of operational sensitivity under the manual control of an operator, in order to provderfor rapid operational movements of the work table, as well as to insure a degree of sensitivitjywhichwill give the necessary feel for manual 'control 4and precision op; eration of the work table by they operator in carrying out duplicating roperations 'on work oisma'll dimensions with vsmall cutting tools. However, the foregoing characteristics essential for fast operating speeds and iorthe nece'ssary'operator feel for accurate manual operation and control in performing duplicating operationson small work, renders sensitive 'typefmanua-lly operable work tables impractical "for emcient use onf work of the larger dimensions or tougherunaterial characteristics or with 'large cutters, because, due to the'iiigh sensitivity fof 'the Work tableptne large manual forces requiredfrom the` operator tofeeii the cutter Athrough heavy workfmateriai such, for example, 'as steel, for to 'feed a large cutter through 'the -`Work, 'makeit exceedingly difficult or impossihlepractically 'for the operator tri-,manually control the worktale for accurate operations.

It is afgeneral object of our inVention'to overcome the foregoing diliculties and to render these sensitive types of duplicator work tables capable of accurate and eicient manual operation "and control for duplicating operations upon the larger classes of work and upon work materials 'of tougher characteristics and with the larger 'sizes of cutting tools, thus materially increasing the working range and usefulness of 'such "types of machine tools.

in attaining the above general object, our invention is characterized 4by the provision of 'a mechanically simple and efficient design and arrangement oi energy storing mechanism conibned in operative association with a sensitive type machine tool work table, for actuation 'to store energy by the normalmanual operationand control of the Ywork table by the operator with a minimum of added effort on the part of the operator, and for continuously applying such stored energy as forces acting on `the work table in the directions in which the table is being selectively motioned by the manual operation thereof, so that such `applied vforces act to aid the manual motioning of the table by the operator with the inertia forces developed -by the mechanism functioning to regulate the rate of speed oi' motion of the table by resisting or opposing any sudden changes or Variations in such rate of speed which may be occasioned by over or under'control on the part of the operator, thus making it possible for the operator to manually control the motioning of the work table at substantially constant -rates of speed of Ymovement to feed the cutter through the work.

A further object of the invention Vis to provide such an energy storing mechanism for the inertia control of the work tables of machine tools, such as a sensitive type duplicator work table, which embodies a -rotatable weight `mass forming a iiywheel in operative, controlled wasso ciation with the work table, for `rotation by the normal manual motioning of the work -table to store energy therefrom -.and continuously .apply such stored energy to the Work table during :op-f eration thereof with the inertia forces developed by the ilywheel acting to continuously resist sudden variations in the rate of speed -of .manual motioning of the work table.

Another object of the invention lis to provide such an energy storing mechanism of the flye wheel type in which rotation of the flywheel is obtained through the medium of :a nutandfscrew arrangement in which the lily-Wheel -and' .screw are mounted on and carried yby 'the -ftable with the screw in operative association with a non-rotary nut for translating rectilinear movements of a work table and axial movements of the screw into rotary motion of the screw to drive the flywheel.

Another object of the invention is to provide such an energy storing mechanism for the inertia control of the machine tool work table, in which the design and arrangement of the mechanism is such that a high rate of speed of rotation of the flywheel is obtained by rectilinear movements of the work table through small distances, so that the desired ywheel eiect can be obtained by utilizing a ywheel of small diameter and small mass rotated at relatively high speed.

Another object of the invention is to provide such an energy storing mechanism particularly adapted for inertia control of the Work table of a machine tool, which will be of simple, compact design and construction `capable of being mounted and combined in a work table organization in operative association therewith without requiring major or substantial redesigning of the work table organization, and which will in mounted operative combination in the table organization, occupya minimum of space with a minimum of exposed structure for interference with normal operation and use of the machine tool and of the table organization.

Another object of the invention is to provide for the inertia -control of a manually operable work table organization of a machine tool, of a type in which the work table proper is mounted on a sub-table or slide for rectilinear movements in opposite directions on such slide, with the slide mounted for rectilinear movements in opposite directions along a path at right angles to the path oi movement of the work table, so that, the work table may have universal lateral movements in one plane as a result of independent rectilinear and of compound rectilinear1 movements of the slide and work table, by independent energy storing mechanisms associated with the work table and the slide, respectively, so that said mechanisms are independently actuated by independent motioning of the work table and the slide, or are simultaneously actuated by compound movements of said table and slide to store energy and apply inertia forces to said table and slide as a unit throughout independent and compound movements of the table and slide as the work table is manually universally motioned.

A further object of the invention is to provide an energy storing mechanism of the flywheel type for the inertia control of machine elements having rectilinear movements, in which an actu- 'ating screw is provided for rotation to drive the ywheel element of the mechanism with the screw in such associationwith a nut element that axial or longitudinal movements of the screw through and relative to the nut, are translated into rotation of the screw to drive the nywheel.

A `furthyercbject Vof the invention is to provide an energy storing mechanism of such character whichwhile primarily adapted for actuation by and inertia control of machine tool work tables, will beof general adaptability and utility in the mechanical Varts for association with and control of a machine elementrhaving primarily rectilinear motion. y

Another object of the invention is to provide such an energy storing mechanism having nut and screw actuating members of the minimum friction, ball bearing type. A further object of the invention is to provide a nut and screw combination of the ball bearing type which will be of general utility in the machine arts, having a ball bearing nut of eicient design and construction arranged to operate with the screw through a plurality of independent series of balls for minimum friction engagement and cooperation in the threaded grooves of the screw as such screws are respectively presented to said independent series of balls by the axial and rotary movements of the screw relative to the nut.

A further object is to provide an improved design of a ball bearing nut and screw arrangement incorporating an improved device for returning the balls to the starting point of the helical paths so that such balls form a plurality of continuous series moving in closed helical paths and having return ducts ot minimum length, thereby improving the anti-friction characteristics of the screw and nut arrangement.

A further object is to provide a ball bearing nut and screw arrangement incorporating a ball return duct of one-piece construction having a plurality of return channels and arranged so that these channels can be readily machined to accurate dimensions and can be positioned precisely to accurately close the plurality of interrupted helices.

With the foregoing general objects and results in view, as well as certain other objects and results in view which will be readily apparent from the following description, our invention consists in certain novel features in structure, organization and combinations, and in lconstruction of parts and elements, as will be more fully and particularly described and specified hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings in which similar reference characters refer to corresponding partsv and elements throughout the several gures thereof:

Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of a manually operable work table organization of the sensitive type for a duplicator machine, with energy storing mechanisms or units of our invention mounted on and combined with the work table and supporting subtable or slide therefor, and showing the nut of the ywheel actuating nut and screw of the work table operated mechanism in vertical longitudinal section and the screw with the flywheel mounted thereon in side elevation, and further showing the nut and screw of the slide operated mechanism in vertical transverse section.

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the organization of Fig. 1, taken from the left hand side of the machine, showing the work table operated energy storing mechanism or unit in transverse vertical section, and showing the nut of the flywheel actuating nut and screw of the slide operated energy storing mechanism or unit in vertical longitudinal section and the screw thereof with the iiywheel mounted thereon in side elevation.

Fig. 3 is a view in end elevation of the ball bearing nut and screw combination of an energy storing and inertia control mechanism or unit of our invention.

Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal section taken as on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, through the ball bearing nut, but with the screw therein shown in side elevation, and particularly showing the arrangement of independent series of balls engaged in the thread grooves of the screw.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section through the ball bearing nut with the balls. and screw removed, taken as on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3, to show the may include a supporting 'member 2|', that is mounted on the machine in fixed and rigid' relationship with respect to the movable table Hl and its movable sub-table or slide ll. The lever 20 is mounted on the Supporting 'member 2|, so as to be universally swingable laterally to move the table l in the direction the lever 20 is swung. The universal mounting of the lever 2B, on the supporting member `2|, may include ya ball V22 carried by and depending from thelower end of the lever 29, and confined for universal movement in the supporting member 2|. The universally mounted lever 2li is connected with the table I0 by an arm 23, secured to the underside ofthe right hand'end of the table iii, and depending therefrom to and having universal connection with a b all 24,V carried by the lower'end of the arm 23 and spaced above and in vertical axial alignment with the ball 22. VThe details of such mounting or" the manual operating and controlling lever 2G on the supporting member 2|, through the medium of the balls 22 and 24 and of the connection of the arm and its mounting with the work table lil by the arm 23, are disclosed and described in the aforesaid Patent 2,005,696, and need not be repeated herein. It will suftice to state that universal lateral movement of the arm 2lunder the manual operation and control of the operator will suitably motion table ill and slide independently or through simultaneous compound movements thereof, to motion the work table if! in any desired direction laterally through its horizontal plane or" universal movement.

In the example given of such a sensitive type work table organization for a duplicating machine, the work table Ill has mounted and secured thereon, the work piece W and the pattern or master P in proper xed relationship, so that, the rotary cutter C (see Fig. i), and the style of the tracer S of the duplicating machine will operatively engage such work` piece and pattern, respectively, and as the operator manually moves lever 2li to motion the Work table if) to cause the tracer style to follow the pattern, the cutter C will reproduce the pattern being followed in the work piece W.

In the adaptation of our invention to the sensitive type work table of the illustrated example hereof, we hav-e provided an energy storing and inertia control mechanism or unit to the work table |ll, and we have provided a similar energy storing and inertia control mechanism or unit to the slide or sub-table ll. These units are automatically independently operated by independent motioning of the work table and of the slide, respectively, along their straight line paths, and are simultaneously operated by the simultaneous motioning of .the work table Ill and the slide H, through compound movements thereof in the universal lateral motioning of the work table I under the manual control of an operation by the control lever 20.

Such an energy storing and inertia control unit as applied to the work table IE, referring now to Fig. 1, of the drawings in particular, includes a screw member 30 in the form of an externally threaded rod or shaft which is mounted in position on the table l0 located at the underside thereof, extending across and between opposite depending side flanges or members lill? of the work table, with the longitudinal axis thereof parallel with the path of straight line movement of th-e table l0 on and relative to the slide or sub-table I I. The screw 30 is mounted in such position with its opposite ends rotatably 8 journaled-in suitable anti-friction bearings 30a, mounted in the opposite side flanges IUb-of the table I0, so that the screw 3|! is mounted for free, minimum friction rotation on and independently of the table in such bearings, but bodily moved axially or longitudinally with the ta-ble as the latter is motioned along its straight line path parallel with the axis of the screw. In this instance, the left hand end of screw- 30 (when facing the front of the machine), is extended outwardly a distance beyond the depending left hand ange or hanger member lill) of table Ill, to provide the shaft portion 30h for'reev ceiving and upon which asuitable flywheel F is iixed for rotation by andV with this screw 30. The bearings 30a, thus mount and rotatably support the screw 30 in position conned and limited against axial or radial movement of the screw relative to work table li), While'perrntting free rotation thereof on yand independently of the table to rotate the flywheel F. In this example, the screw 38, is provided with external screw threading 3l, forming thread grooves 3|a therebetween (see Fig. 4); this threading being extended along the lengthof the screw between the depending ange members or hangers lllb of the frame Hl, in which thes'crew is journaled. A ball bearing nut unit 4U,- which embodies certain features of our invention, .as will be hereinafter explained, is mounted in xed, non-rotary position at the upper side of the slide or sub-table H, with the screw 30 operatively received therein' and extending therethrough, as will be clear by reference to. Fig. l., of the drawings. j f W The ball bearing nut unit 40, referring now to Figs. 3, 4 and 5, of the drawings, embodies -a nut body or block member 40d' provided with a cylindrical bore' 4| therethrough, havingl internal screw threading 42 formed therein with the helix angle of such threading 42, the same as the helix angle of the external threading 3| on the screw 30. The internal threading 42 of the nut body 40a, provides the usual thread grooves 42a therebetween. The nut body or block 4ta may be provided with the laterally extended, horizontal flange portion 40h, by which the nut unit may be attached and secured in position, bores or the like 40e being provided for receiving suitable machine screwsfor effecting such attachment.

At the lower side of the internally threaded bore 4|, of the nut body, the internal threading is interrupted by a groove formed in the body disposed longitudinally and extending from end to end of the bore. A ball return guide or switch plate 44 is seated'and secured in such groove'with the upper or inner side of such plate 44 being provided with a series of ball return orswitching grooves 44a therein, as clearly shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. The upper surface or face of the switch plate 44 lies in a'plane but slightly spaced from the plane passing through the'outer edges of the screw threads 3| of the screw 30," when the latter is in operative association inan'd extending through nut unit 40, so as to provide operating clearance as shown by Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings in particular.

The ball return or switching grooves 44a, are generally parallel and are disposed vangularly across and transversely of plate 44, relative to'the internal threading 42 and thread grooves 42a thereof, that is to say, that the switching grooves 44a, are generated as from opposite hand'threading to the internal threading 42 of the nut unit 40. The plate 44 is so positioned in the nut body i'elativefto the internal vthreading 42"', that each switching or ballreturnfgrooveua, extends an'- gularly across plate-'IML to connect' and open vat its opposite l-endsinto theV adjacent axially spaced portions off `what is in effect; oneV convolution `of the thread grooving 42h-of the internal threading 42.' EachA switching' or ball return groove 44a thus forms with one convolution o-fthe thread growing-42a, an endless ballreceiving and'confining groove around the nutfor endless circulai tion' of an independent'set of balls ltherethrough and therea-round in either direction. Each switching or ballreturn groove ma' is cuter otherwise-formedfin theblock Mfso thatthegroove'is of a-curveol or arcuateiorm longitudinally theres of to' have; a depth throughout its ,length below the-planeof 'theupperv or inner" surface-#ofplate 44'; and of theadjacent plane-through whichthe outery edges of nut threading 4-2pass, suchf asf'to permit the -anti-frictioir'ball-s b to freely pass back" and forth through the switching`-grooves across and' beneath'the externalthreading' 3l,V in the bores of the-screw-3`0 (See-liigs.` 3"' and 4.)'

Independent sets of' anti-friction balls B'l; B2", B3, B4; B5 andB'G; asshownhyFig. 4; offthefdrawe ihgs; are" provided forI meshingV thel external threading 31' of the screw 3U; withftheinternal threading 4f2of the nutloody or' block Mio, of'nnt unity 4U; to operativelyassociate andconr'iectL the screw-Bllwiththe noni-*rotary nut unit 4U, so that; relative rectilinear movementsv betweenV theA nut unit and screwA will4 be1 translated into rotary movement of the screw. For instance, in the` ex'- am-ple hereof; each ofjtheaforesaid independent sets-consists of an endless seriesoiantiLfriction balls b, mounted in and aroundone convolution ofithethreadgrooving 42a, of'v the internal threading"` 42, with the ballsM of each seriesvl feeding throughtheir'own switching-or'ballireturn' groove 44a; whichA connects the` axially yspaced portions or'such convolution" oi the thread' grooving. A

set oiv balls Z1, vthus'circulates 'aroundsuch convo@ lition of the threadgroovingfdd; through 4the switching groove Ma, in accordance withthe dif rection ofl circulationl or 'fe'edf of the-set of balls caused by ther directionLl of rotation ofthe screw 30`in the vnut unit'ldll'. When thersorewA 30u-sin operative lassociation and' `mesh withv the nut-'unit 40'; the anti-friction balls o Y or." 'said independent sets Bl, B2',V B31,` B4; B2i-and B6, respectively, are seated `and engaged in the thread groove 3I'a of the fext'ernaL threading 3ft ofthe screw, as portionseosaid screw are'successively:presented to saidiindependent sets-'of ball'sas the screw e30@ and nutbody 40 f movey relatively to each- -other in either direction longitudinally' of the screw. Depending upon the1 direction of rotation of' screw 3U! and its resultingl direction ofi'feed axially throughl and relative to thenutl'body-AI", cacher saidi'of halls bis successively` engaged-Thy the external` threading of screw 30 withii the balls feeding' around one side of 4the helicalvgrooves 41o-f ih the nutvthreading`l 42! into a` switching grooverna; forV feeding; through that-groove `for returnf to theV other` sideioi the helical groove-42a of.theiinternal threading-:42 of'nutlmemloer' 40', endless succession. Thesidelwallsoffthe switching grooves' 44uformed'by the* switchhl'ock' 44, arseiin4 cooperative'.association-'and alignmentwith theadjacent portions off the, internal threading 42? ohthenut memberandlot theexterna1ithreadi'ngs3'Isofzthefscrew 30, to provide; structure which connes'fthef. independent sets* oiT-l halls` t'oi-l their respectivef'allotted helicalfcircuiatory "path'sL-f "lherswitchingxplatetu isedesi'gned` so that @the 10 switching grooves 44a are" ofl minimumlength te minimize the frictional loss vof the balls passing through thisgr'oove by keeping the number of hallsv in the groove at any givenl timeA to theV abf-g' solute minimum. The Aballs passing through groove 44a are not positively rotatedA as they are while in groove 42a, so that the frictional loss andv tendency to jam increases with an increase inthe length of groove44a.

In the adaptation of an energy storing and inertia control mechanism or unit oi our inverf tion toav machine tool work table'organization of the sensitive type', as in the instant example, rotary motion is imparted to the screw 30, todiive thefiywheelF as a result of longitudinal move# ment of the screw til,A through and relativelto the iixed, non-rotary ball bearing hut unit 40, asa result of rectilinear` motion of the work table I0 in` either'directi'on along its straight line path" of movement. With limited space' available, it` necessary to utilize a'iiywheel F ofv relatively small diameter an'dsmall mass'. Hence,` in order" to ob; tain an 'effective' iiywheel effect' for eli'cientenergy storing" and effective inertia force development by such flywheel, the flywheel'must be rotated at a relatively high. speed of' rotation for relatively small distances of travel or movement of the work table' I0; In accordance'with our'present inven-y tion, We have overcome the problems presented by these factors and' conditions, by forming' the externalscrew threading 3i of screw 30 of a'low helixan'gle Aso as to increase the 'speed'ratio ofthe screw'resulting from longitudinal'or axial move# ments thereof through the' nut' by the rectil'inealmovement' of the table l0. For' instance, inthe present example; we have provideda helix-angie for the external threading 3| of thescrew" 30 of the'order of seven (7) degrees'. With suoli low helix angler for the external threading of' the screw inA order to cause` rotation of the scr'ew When'a'n ax'ialrload1 is appliedto lthe nut, itli's neces'sary'to reduce the friction between the screw and nut' to a minimum, and such friction reduction in the present instance is accomplished with a high degree ofe'hiciency by the forni and design ofball bearingnut of our" invention asl-1ere'- inabove described. In the illustrated example of an application of oui" energy storing and inertia control! mechanism to a machine tool sensitive work table organization, we have, for instance, provided the. external threading. 3| of the screw 30'0f` a low helix angle so that one revolution of the screw 30 results from each one-.fourth-inch (14") axialmovement of the screw bythe work table l0 'through the Iball bearing nut unit E0.- Iii. .thi's.manner we obtain relatively high speed rotation oil the comparatively.small-diameterrflywheelLF tovstore energy and developA inertia forces asfa result ofY normal 4`manual operation of table I 0, which `will enable practical manual Voperation and. control of the sensitive work table l'weven under theconditions presented. by operations'on largesize worker heavy work material or' by the use of large'diameter cutting tools;-

Thus, with the arrangement asl` shownfa's the work table di) is1 motioned along its-straightline pathr on and independently` of the slide vor rsub-lv tablef lfl'; by' manual operation 'et the4 lever -Zllitlie' screwf3 is moved longitudinally with the tableY alongl such. lpath and' through the' xed; non@ rotar'yball bearing. nut'unit de'. As thescrew til' moves through'such nut unit lit, drie to'fthe'low helix angle 'or thevtnreading ai and-'or the arf rangement ofiind'e'pendenti sets? of antiifrietiorii ballsb,l therlongitudinal. movement oi Y the'iscrewi is translated into relatively high speed rotation thereofto rotate the ywheel F asy an energy storing and inertia control element. Such high speed rotation of flywheel F is obtained with a minimum of added manual force required from the operator in motioning the hand lever 20, while a high rate of speed of rotation of the ywheel is quickly attained. The energy stored in flywheel F is then applied by the screw and nut arrangement and associated mounting thereof with work table lil in the direction of movement of the table to aid the operator in manually feeding a cutter through a work piece on the table, while the substantial inertia forces developed` continuously act to maintain a constant rate of speed of movement of table I9 along its rectilinear path and to resist sudden changes or variations in such rate of speed.

In carrying out the adaptation of our invention to the particular sensitive type work table of this example, we operatively mount and associate an energy storing and inertia control mechanism or unit of the invention with the slide or Sub-table Il for automatic actuation thereby in the normal operation of the slide Il. Referring now to Fig. 2 of the drawings, such as a unit m-ay be similar to the unit combined and associated with the work table I, as hereinbefore described, and embody an externally threaded screw 30 mounted in position beneath the slide and journalled for rotation thereon at its opposite ends in the anti-friction bearings 30a mounted in the opposite side depending flange or hanger members Ila of the slide The screw 30 is mounted in horizontally disposed position with its longitudinal axis parallel with the straight line path of movement of the slide on the supporting base I2. As the path of movement of the slide is disposed at right angles to the path of movement of the table lil which is slidably mounted on the slide, it follows that the screw 30' of the energy storing mechanism for the slide is mounted and disposed with its longitudinal axis at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the screw 30 of the energy storing mechanism for the table l0. The screw 30 is extended outwardly at one end thereof (the left hand end when facing the right hand side of the machine as in Fig. 2) to provide a shaft 30h for mounting a flywheel F which is suitably keyed or secured thereon for rotation by rotation of the screw 30 and the extension shaft 3G17 thereof.

' A ball bearing nut unit 40', similar to the ball bearing nut unit 40 of the energy storing mechanism for the work table Il), is positioned at the upper side of the base I2 secured in fixed nonrotary position thereon with the screw 3U' received therein and extending therethrough in operative mesh and engagement therewith through the medium of the independent sets of anti-friction balls b constructed, arranged and assembled as hereinbefore described in connection with the ball bearing nut 4G. In this example the external threading 3| of screw 30' has the low helix angle such as described in connection with the helix angle of the external threading 3| on the screw 30, in order to obtain high speed of rotation of the screw 30 and ily- Wheel F for small movements of the slide along its straight line path of movement. Thus, as the slide is motioned through its rectilinear movements, the screw 30 is moved longitudinally through the ball bearing nut unit 4G' and through the medium of the independent sets of balls b, meshing the external threading 3| of screw 30 12 with the internal threading 42 of the ball bearing nut unit 4D', such longitudinal screw movements are translated into relative high speed rotation of the screw and of the ywheel F' so as to store energy in that flywheel and develop inertia forces, all functioning andreacting on the slide to aid rectilinear movements thereof and to tend to control and maintain constant the rate of speed of such movements by resisting sudden speed changes.

In the normal operation of the sensitive table organization of this example, as the work table I0 is universally laterally motioned through manual operation and control of the hand lever 2l), the slide II and the table l0 may be independently motioned along their respective straight line paths of movement at rightvangles to each other or may be simultaneously motioned through compound movements thereof. When the work table Il) is motioned along its straight line path independently of and without movement of the slide Il, the table is under the control of the energy storing and inertia force developing flywheel F, with the flywheel F' of the energy storing mechanism associated with slide at rest and inactive. When the slide is motioned along its straight line path at right angles to the path of movement of table I0, to bodily, laterally motion the table "in and out relative to the machine, but without movement of the table independently of or relative to slide I I, the screw 30' associated with slide is actuated to rotate flywheel F and such ilywheel then stores energy and effects inertia control of the combined movement of the slide and the work table l0 as a unit. Under such conditions the flywheel F is at rest and inactive. When the slide `I| and work table Ill are simultaneously motioned along their respective straight line paths through compound movements thereof by the manual operation of the lever 20, the movements ofslide actuate its inertia controlling flywheel F', and simultaneously the movement of the table I0 relative to slide Il causes the screw 30 to actuate its iiywheel F, so that the table lil and slide ll are under the control of the combined energy storing functions of and inertia forces developed by the simultaneously actuated flywheels F and F.

In order that an energy storing and inertia control unit of our invention may be readily adapted to meet varying conditions presented by different characters of work being performed by a work table organization such as the sensitive type example of such an organization herein disclosed and explained, we have provided flywheel designs and constructions by which the inertia effect of a flywheel may bechanged by varying the mass thereof and the location of the mass radially from the axis of rotation of the flywheel. In one form of such a flywheel as-shown by the ilywheels F and F of Figs. land 2, the flywheel is formed of a series of discs f of varying diameters which are removably mounted on the flywheel shaft. The inertia effect of a flywheel of this form can be changed by adding or removing discs f to or from the flywheel.

In another form of such variable inertia effect flywheel, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawings, the flywheel includes a tubular hub member 50 which may be suitably keyed or attached to the driving shaft, with a rod 5| secured extended diametrically through hub 5U and extending radially Voutwardly .from opposite sides. thereof. The rod 5| is rotatably mounted in and extending through the hllb 516101' rotation independently of thehub and may be coniined against axial or longitudinal movements through the hub by suitable washers or the like elements Sla secured on and to the shaft at and having bearing ensagement with hub t at. opposite sides, respectively,lof such hub. Ijhe opposite outer lengths, oi the rod 5l which extend radially outwardly from opposite sides or the hub 50, 'are-.provided with opposite hand external screw threading lb and 5de, respectively. Knurled thumb nuts 52 are secured to opposite vends of the rod 5l for manually rotating the rod in either direction in the hub 50.

Weights 53 and 54.111 the form oficircular blocks having internally threaded axial bores therethrough are threaded on the externally threaded opposite lengths of rod 5|, respectively. Weight 53 is provided with a slide arm 53a extending inwardly to the hub 5B from the outer peripheral side of the weight with the inner surface of this arm slidably engaging a flat 50a formed on the adjacent side of the hub 50. The weight 54 is formed with a similar slide arm 54a which extends inwardly therefrom to the hub and has .the inner surface thereof engaging a flat 50h at the adjacent side of the hub opposite the side on which the nat 50a is formed for slidably engaging arm 53a of weight 53.

By the foregoing arrangement, the weights Y 53 and 5l! may be simultaneously moved inwardly or outwardly to adjust their radial distances from the hub 50, by rotating rod 5l in one direction or the other, the weights 53 and 54 being held against rotation on and relative to rod 5l by the arms 53a and 54a slidably engaging the flats 50a and 59h, respectively, at opposite sides or" the hub. In this manner the inertia effect of this form of flywheel may be readily varied with accuracy in order to develop inertia forces suitable to various conditions of operation.

Attention is directed to the fact that while we have disclosed a form of ball bearing nut of our invention herein, such as the ball bearing nut units le and dil', and prefer the use of such form of nut for efliciency reasons, yet it is to be understood that various other forms of ball bearing nuts and ball bearing nut and screw arrangements may be employed in the broad combinations of our invention in the adaptation thereof to the inertia control of machine tool work tables or other machine elements. Our invention further contemplates and includes the use of ball bearing nut and screw arrangements embodying the principles and features of the invention, in any combination and for any use for which they are or may be adapted other than in the combination with a machine tool work table presented herein as an example; and particularly in those combinations or for those uses in which it may be desired to translate relative rectilinear movements between the screw and nut in directions longitudinally or the screw, into relatively high speed rotary motion of the screw for relatively small rectilinear movements between the screw and nut in directions longitudinally of the screw, It will also be evident to those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and eliminations might be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of our invention and, hence, We do not wish to limit the invention in all respects to the exact and specific disclosures of the examples of the invention described herein, except as may be required by specic intended limitations thereto included in any of the appended claims, f

What we .claim l. In a machine. tool'.A combmation.4 a `work table. organization or 4thesensitive table type in.- cludingra supporting struct-ure, a slide member mounted onfsaid supportingstrueture formovementthereon in opposite directions. along :a straight line path;- a screw. member rotatably mounted on and. carried by said slidev member with its axis parallel to the straight line path of movement lof said; slide member., allywheel` on said screw member for rotation thereby,` .a vnut member mounted .on said .supporting structure in operative engagement. with said. screw member and being iixed relative to movements of .said

slide and screwmembers. for cauisng rotation ofl the screwmember andV of said fiywheelfbymovements ci said slide member in Veither direction along itsstraightline patnawcrk table mounted on and carried saidv slidemember for movement in opposite directions independently 'thereof, alonga `stm-.aightline path at right angles to the straight line path ofrfmovement of said slide member, a `screw member rotatably mounted on and carried by said work table with its longitudinal axis parallel with the straight line path of movement of said table, a flywheel mounted on said screw member for rotation thereby, a nut member mounted on said slide member in operative association with said table carried screw member and being xed relative to movements of said table on said slide member for causing rotation of said screw member and flywheel by the straight line movements of said table, and manually operable means coupled with said slide member and said table for universal lateral motioning of said table by selective independent movements or compound movements of said slide member and said Work table.

2. In a machine tool, in combination, a work table organization including a supporting structure, a movable element on said supporting structure, mounting means supporting said movable element on said structure for and coniining said element to rectilinear movements in opposite directions along a straight line path, manually operable means coupled with said movable element for manually motioning the same in either direction along its straight line path of movement, an externally threaded screw member rotatably mounted on and carried by said movable element, said screw member being positioned with its longitudinal axis parallel to the straight line path of motioning of said movable element, a threaded ball bearing type nut member mounted on said supporting structure in xed position relative to the rectilinear movements of said element, said screw member being in operative threaded engagement with said nut member for causing rotation of said screw member by axial movement thereof relative to said nut member, the external threading of said screw member being of low helix angle for causing relatively high speed rotation of said screw for relatively short distances of rectilinear movement of said movable element, and a weight mass mounted on said screw member for rotation thereby to store energy and apply inertia forces to said movable element during manual motioning thereof.

3. In a machine tool, in combination, a work table organization including a supporting structure, a movable element on said supporting structure, mounting means supporting said movable element on said structure for and confining said element to rectilinear movements in opposite directions along a straight line path, manually op;-

erable means coupled with said movable element 'for manually motioning the same along its straight line path of movement, a screw member rotatably mounted on and carried by said mov- 'able element, said screw member being mounted in position with its longitudinal axis parallel to the straight line path of motioning of said movable element, a ball bearing type nut member mounted on said supporting structure in xed position relative to the rectilinear movements of said movable element, said screw member being in operative threaded engagement with said nut member and being provided with external threading having a 10W helix angle for causing rotation of said screw member by axial movement thereof relative to said nut member, and a flywheel mounted on said screw member for rotation thereby to store energy and apply inertia forces to said movable element during manual motioning thereof.

THEODORE MILLER.

AAGE JENSEN. RAYMOND E. OVERI'URF.

l REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent.:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

